Sermon -- 21st Sunday after Pentecost (October 17, 2021)

MARK 10:17-27

WITH GOD, SALVATION IS NOT MERELY POSSIBLE, IT IS CERTAIN.

In the name + of Jesus.

     A man of great wealth came to Jesus as he was leaving town.  This rich man ran to Jesus with his concern.  Now, rich people don’t run; a rich person has people run for him.  And it is more than that.  “A man ran up and knelt before him” (Mark 10:17).  If he fell on his knees before Jesus, he must have been afraid and panicked.  He did not waste any time getting to what was on his mind, and he seemed to think that Jesus had the answer to alleviate his fears.  In fact, it was an important question: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life” (Mark 10:17)?

     I wonder what happened in this man’s life that he found the matter so urgent?  People might wonder at times about what it takes to get into eternal life, but it usually doesn’t produce such anxiety.  Something traumatic must have happened.  Perhaps his father had just died.  Perhaps he had been sick.  In any case, he knew that something was not right in his life.  Ironically, he was also convinced that he was in good shape.

     Jesus pointed him to God’s word for the answer.  Where else could we turn for the answer to this all-important question?  God is the one who sets the standard for good and evil.  God has entrusted all judgment to the Son.  So, who better than Jesus to give the answer?  Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good?  No one is good except God alone.  You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother’” (Mark 10:18-19).  Jesus’ answer had two parts.  In the second part, he had the man measure himself up to God’s standard.  What does God demand of you?  If you have done this, you will live.  If you have not, you will perish.  So, which have you done—the good or the evil?  And in case this man got stuck, the first part of Jesus’ answer was this: “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18).

     The rich man, however, did not quite get it.  He replied, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth” (Mark 10:20).  He insisted he was a good man.  To be fair, I suspect most people would have agreed.  When we talk about who is good or who is bad, we usually limit it to how people behave or to how they treat us.  They usually have to be really bad for us to call them bad.  Rapists are bad.  Murderers are bad.  Human traffickers are bad.  But most people are not rapists, murderers, or human traffickers.  So, we conclude that most people are good because most people don’t go to jail.  Some people are not criminals but are jerks.  If they act that way toward us, then we call them bad.  But what if a man is a brain surgeon and is a jerk?  Then we have to decide which is greater, his boorish behavior or the good he does.  It depends if he operated on a loved one or is at a cocktail party and won’t shut up.  This is a self-centered way to judge good and bad.

     However, there is only one who is good—God.  He sets the standard for good and evil.  The Bible proclaims this sentence upon us all: “There is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22-23).  More accurately, we continue to fall short of the glory of God.  No one is good in the sight of God because no one has done the good God demands.  Like the rich young man, we may have convinced ourselves that we have kept the Commandments.  You may not have murdered someone, but how many people do you wish were dead or would at least suffer?  You may not have cheated on your spouse, but have you fantasized about bedding down with another or ogled pictures on your computer?  You may not have robbed a store, but have you cheated your employer by milking the clock?  You may not have committed perjury, but have you delighted in gossip because you wanted to believe the worst about someone?  And on it goes.  Like the rich man, your outward behavior might suggest you are good.  But the Commandments show that your heart was evil all along.  Repent.

     Jesus wanted to show this rich man that he was not as good as he thought.  His fear, love, and trust were in his wealth.  Jesus loved this man.  He was not trying to stick it to him, but to get him to recognize his need for a Savior.  So Jesus told him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”  Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions (Mark 10:21-22).  The rich man had a god that he prized above all.  He loved his goods.  He would not give them up, not even for eternal life.  I don’t know if this man ever did come to faith Jesus.  If not, he went to his grave.  And then he had neither his wealth nor eternal life.

     Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”  And the disciples were amazed at his words (Mark 10:23-24).  As if this were not disturbing enough, Jesus doubled down.  He declared that salvation is even harder than that.  Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:24-25). 

     I am sure Jesus’ disciples believed that salvation was possible for them, even probable.  They had done so much for Jesus!  Suddenly, they were just as panicked as that rich man who came to Jesus.  They were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?”  Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible…” (Mark 10:26-27).  This is precisely what Jesus wants us to know.  The disciples thought that they had done something that the rich man had not.  They had left their businesses and homes to follow Jesus.  But Jesus’ words had them very concerned.  If it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for people to be saved, what hope is there?  With man, it is impossible.  Who can do the works God commands?  Whose heart is pure and wholly devoted to God?  Then who can be saved?

     With God, salvation is not merely possible, it is certain.  The fact is you cannot save yourself.  If you are to be saved, someone else must save you.  “With man it is impossible, but not with God.  For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27).  It should not have to be said, but perhaps it must.  People use this verse, “All things are possible with God,” to refer to just about anything—to landing a job, to beating cancer, to winning a championship.  While it is true that God can do anything, it is not true that you can do whatever you want because with God it is possible.  Not everyone wins a gold medal or gets the lead role.  “With God all things are possible” is true, but that does not mean all things are promised or guaranteed.  This verse refers to our salvation which is far more important than riches, awards, or feats of strength. 

     With God, salvation is not merely possible, it is certain.  That is because Jesus has done all the work to save you.  He saved you from your failings against the Commandments by keeping them for you.  Although the whole world belongs to him, he neither coveted nor took anyone’s possessions.  Although the priests and politicians were corrupt, he did not slander them.  Although he accepted the company of prostitutes and sinners, he did not engage in sin with them.  Jesus has done all things in purity and perfection.  For there is only one who is good—God who came in the flesh.  With Jesus, keeping the Commandments was not merely possible, but certain.

     The rich man would not give up his wealth for the kingdom of God.  He discovered that he could not do what he was told to do.  Neither do we.  But Jesus gave up everything for you.  He left the glory and majesty of heaven to come to earth as a man.  He took the form of a servant—submitting to the Commandments of God, submitting himself to the laws of government, and even enduring the wicked schemes of those who thought they were powerful.  Jesus submitted to betrayal and to beatings, to slander and spitting, to the scourging of the Romans and to the scandal of the cross.  Jesus gave up all he possessed and he has given it to the poor in spirit—to you.  The holiness you need to stand before God, Jesus gave to you.  The clean conscience you need to dwell in peace, Jesus has given to you.  The place in the kingdom of God that you and I do not deserve, Jesus has secured for you.  With God, salvation is not merely possible, it is certain.

     Still, it is hard.  It is hard for us to give up the blessings God has given us.  Sometimes it is hard even to give up the sins we like.  Those must be cast away.  Like the rich man, our attraction to this world is strong.  How foolish!  Do we really think our sins benefit us more than what God is pleased to give us?  If God has been pleased to give us blessings here and now, do we think that the blessings to come will be lacking in quality or quantity?  Are the temporary riches of earth to be preferred to the eternal riches of heaven—riches he is pleased to give us already in the word and sacraments?  Whatever earthly blessings God gives us now—no matter how beloved or beneficial they are to us—they will be lost.  Even if we keep them until the day we die, we will die and they will be useless.  And if God should choose to take away the possessions he gives us before we die, never forget that God still possesses us!  Whatever we lose in this world, we do not lose the Savior whose promises are certain, guaranteed, and everlasting.

     With God, salvation is not merely possible, it is certain.  The question asked by the rich man is important.  It has eternal implications.  But his question also betrayed a common misunderstanding: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life” (Mark 10:17)?  What do you have to do to inherit something?  Nothing.  You can’t do anything to inherit something.  Someone must include you in his will, which is his choice, not yours.  Then he has to die so that his possessions are given to you.  That is exactly what Jesus did.  He put your name in the Book of Life so that you will be saved.  He died and has made you heirs of eternal life.  He does the work of saving you and of sustaining you in the faith.  He gave up everything to have you as his possession, and he gives you everything you need for this life and the next. 

     God’s love for you is not merely possible; it is certain.  God’s forgiveness of your sins is not merely possible; it is certain.  The resurrection of the dead is not merely possible; it is certain.  And your place in heavenly glory is not merely possible; it is certain.  For, Jesus is risen.  He lives and reigns to guarantee all his promises.  He has gone to prepare a place for you, and he will come again so that your place will be with him.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.